PROJECTS ON THE MOVE

OpenWRT puts Linux on WLAN routers and helps users set up large-scale WLANs at home, and the FreeWRT derivative adds a professional touch. If you don’t have your own compile farm, the OpenSUSE build service may be just what you need. And we investigate the obstacles to new packages for Debian.

Wireless LANs have helped many home users to set up simple networks without having to run cables through the house. Typically, a router handles shared Internet access for the internal machines. Many DSL providers give users discounts on WLAN routers, or even give away a router. Low power consumption, a small footprint, and low noise emission make routers infinitely preferable to configuring a PC for the same job. Routers between PCs and Embedded Systems One problem with routers is the lack of functionality. The default firmware normally doesn’t support anything much but the core task of routing between the Internet and the internal network. Although many routers now support peripheral tasks such as port forwarding, you can’t expect much more than that. And if you intend to run any other kind of software on your router, you will need an operating system to match.

Many devices now run Linux – but mostly as a closed source firmware that you cannot access. We show how to use OpenWrt to free the TL-MR3020 router from its proprietary firmware and convert it into an all-around server for your home network.